Recording and / or reproducing apparatus and editing method

ABSTRACT

A portable recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data to and/or from a storage medium are provided. The medium has a data area and a management area. The data area stores data and the management area stores management information for managing the data. The apparatus includes stopping means for stopping reproduction of the data according to a user&#39;s input. Updating means for updates the management information so that an address of the storage medium corresponding to the stop position of the reproduced data determined by the user&#39;s input becomes the end address of the reproduced data.

This is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No.09/830,309, filed Apr. 25, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,099,557 which is a371 of International Application PCT/JP00/05741, filed Aug. 25, 2000,all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a recording and/or reproducingapparatus that can record and/or reproduce data to/from a record medium.In addition, the present invention relates to an editing method of therecording and/or reproducing apparatus.

RELATED ART

Presently, portable video cameras integrally composed of anphotographing device such as a camera and a video deck that can recordand reproduce a picture and a sound have become common. As a standardoperation mode of such a portable video camera, while the user isphotographing his or her favorite object, he or she record it to theportable video camera. The user can reproduce the recorded the recordedpicture/sound and display the reproduced picture/sound on a displayingportion of the video deck or an external monitor-device.

SUBJECT THAT THE INVENTION IS TO SOLVE

It seems that the user of the video camera wants to produce a valuablevideo work by editing a photographed picture, rather than simply recordit.

As one editing operation, an inter-scene editing operation forconnecting scenes is known.

It is supposed that the user wants to change the end position of a sceneso that photographed scenes are properly connected scenes. In this case,when the user operates a video camera using a tape as a record medium,while reproducing and seeing a scene, he or she stops the reproducingoperation at his or her desired position. Thereafter, the userphotographs a new scene after the reproduction stop position of thetape. At that point, an overwrite recording operation of which therecorded data is erased and substituted with newly recorded data shouldbe performed.

When the user photographs a picture, if he or she wants to change thestart position of a scene, data that has been recorded before thechanged start position should be erased. However, when the video camerauses a tape as a record medium, even if data that has been recordedbefore the changed start position is erased, as the tape is traveled,data (erased data) of the portion is reproduced. In other words, areproducing operation of which an erased portion is skipped and theportions before and after the erased portion are connected cannot beperformed. To do such an editing operation, picture data should becaptured by a personal computer or the like. Thus, the editing operationcannot be easily performed.

In a well-known recording and reproducing apparatus using anmagneto-optical disc such as an MD (Mini Disc—trade mark), audio datarecorded on the MD is edited for each program (track). Examples ofediting functions that can be performed for each track are a trackdividing function, a track combining function, and a track erasingoperation.

When the user wants to change an end position or a start position of aparticular track corresponding to a change of an end position or a startposition of a scene with the MD recording and reproducing apparatus, heor she reproduces the track, hears the sound thereof, and pauses thereproduction of the sound at his desired end position or start position.First, the user should perform a track dividing operation at the pauseposition and then an erasing operation for one of the divided tracks. Inother words, to change an end position or a start position of recordeddata, two track editing operations that are a track dividing operationand a track erasing operation should be performed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of the above-described problem, an object of thepresent invention is to allow an end position or a start position ofrecorded data to be more easily performed so as to more easily performan editing operation for recorded data or the like than before.

The present invention pertains to a recording and/or reproducingapparatus for recording and/or reproducing data to and/or from a storagemedium having a data area and a management area, the data area storingdata, the management area storing management information for managingthe data, the apparatus comprising a reproducing means for reproducingthe data corresponding to management information that is read from thestorage medium, a stopping means for stopping reproducing the data, andan updating means for updating the management information so that anaddress of the storage medium corresponding to the stop position of thereproduced data becomes the end address of the reproduced data.

The present invention pertains to a recording and/or reproducingapparatus for recording and/or reproducing data to and/or from a storagemedium having a data area and a management area, the data area storingdata, the management area storing management information for managingthe data, the apparatus comprising a reproducing means for reproducingthe data corresponding to management information that is read from thestorage medium, a designating means for designating a particular timepoint of the reproduced data, and an updating means for updating themanagement information so that an address of the storage mediumcorresponding to the designated time point of the reproduce data becomesthe start address of the reproduced data.

The present invention pertains to an editing method for editing datastored to a storage medium having a data area and a management area, thedata area storing data, the management area storing managementinformation for managing the data, the method comprising the steps ofreproducing the data corresponding to management information that isread from the storage medium, stopping reproducing the data, andupdating the management information so that an address of the storagemedium corresponding to the stop position of the reproduced data becomesthe end address of the reproduced data.

The present invention pertains to an editing method for editing datastored to a storage medium having a data area and a management area, thedata area storing data, the management area storing managementinformation for managing the data, the method comprising the steps ofreproducing the data corresponding to management information that isread from the storage medium, designating a particular time point of thereproduced data, and updating the management information so that anaddress of the storage medium corresponding to the designated time pointof the reproduce data becomes the start address of the reproduced data.

The present invention pertains to an editing method for editing datastored to a storage medium having a data area and a management area, thedata area storing data, the management area storing managementinformation for managing the data, the method comprising the steps ofreproducing the data corresponding to the management information that isread from the storage medium, designating two predetermined time pointsof the reproduced data, and updating the management information so thatan address of the storage medium corresponding to one of the two timepoints becomes the start address of the reproduced data and an addressof the storage medium corresponding to the other time point becomes theend of the reproduced data.

According to the present invention, corresponding to managementinformation that is read from a storage medium, data is reproduced andthe reproduction thereof is stopped. The management information isupdated so that an address of the storage medium corresponding to thereproduction stop position of data becomes an end address of thereproduced data. Thus, the end address can be updated in a simpleoperation.

According to the present invention, corresponding to managementinformation that is read from a storage medium, data is reproduced andthe reproduction thereof is stopped. A particular time point of thereproduced data is designated. The management information is updated sothat an address of the storage medium corresponding to the designatedtime point of the reproduced data becomes a start address of thereproduced data. Thus, the start address can be updated in a simpleoperation.

According to the present invention, corresponding to managementinformation that is read from a storage medium, two particular timepoints of reproduced data are designated. The management information isupdated so that an address of the storage medium corresponding to one ofthe two designated time points becomes a start address of the reproduceddata and an address of the storage medium corresponding to the othertime point becomes an end address of the reproduced data. Thus, thestart address and the end address of the reproduced data can bedesignated in a simple operation. As a result, a trimming editingoperation can be easily performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the track structure of adisc for a video camera according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged sectional view showing a track portion of thedisc for the video camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged plan view showing the track portion of the discfor the video camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining specifications of the discfor the video camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a side view showing the video camera according to theembodiment;

FIG. 4B is a plan view showing the video camera according to theembodiment;

FIG. 5A is a front view showing the video camera according to theembodiment;

FIG. 5B is a rear view showing the video camera according to theembodiment;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a first state of a movable panelportion;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing a second state of the movablepanel portion;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the videocamera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of a mediadriving portion of the video camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the concept of an example of thedata structure of the disc according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the concept of an example of therelation between the data structure of the disc according to theembodiment and physical regions of the disc;

FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram for explaining a first step of a dataend position change editing operation (camera mode) according to theembodiment;

FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram for explaining a second step of the dataend position change editing operation (camera mode) according to theembodiment;

FIG. 11C is a schematic diagram for explaining a third step of the dataend position change editing operation (camera mode) according to theembodiment;

FIG. 11D is a schematic diagram for explaining a fourth step of the dataand position change editing operation (camera mode) according to theembodiment;

FIG. 12A is a schematic diagram for explaining a first step of a dataend position change editing operation (interview mode) according to theembodiment;

FIG. 12B is a schematic diagram for explaining a second step of the dataend position change editing operation (interview mode) according to theembodiment;

FIG. 12C is a schematic diagram for explaining a third step of the dataend position change editing operation (interview mode) according to theembodiment;

FIG. 12D is a schematic diagram for explaining a fourth step of the dataend position change editing operation (interview mode) according to theembodiment;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are (a first portion and a second portion of) a flowchart showing a process for accomplishing the data end position changeediting operation;

FIG. 14A is a schematic diagram for explaining a first step of atrimming editing operation according to the embodiment; and

FIG. 14B is a schematic diagram for explaining a second step of thetrimming editing operation according to the embodiment.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described

As an embodiment of the present invention, a portable video camera thatis integrally composed of a camera device and a recording andreproducing portion that can record and reproduce a picture (a stillpicture or a moving picture), a sound, and so forth will be described.The recording and reproducing portion of the video camera according tothe embodiment is structured so that data is recorded and reproducedcorresponding to so-called Mini Disc known as a kind of amagneto-optical disc.

The embodiment of the present invention will be described in thefollowing order.

1. Disc format

2. Appearance of video camera

3. Internal structure of video camera

4. Structure of media driving portion

5. Example of disc structure according to embodiment

6. Data end position change editing operation

6-1. Outline of operation 1 (in the case of camera mode)

6-2. Outline of operation 2 (in the case of interview mode)

6-3. Process

7. Trimming editing operation

1. Disc Format

The recording and reproducing portion of the video camera according tothe embodiment corresponds to a format of so-called MD data of whichdata is recorded to and/or recorded from the Mini Disc (magneto-opticaldisc). Two MD data formats that are MD-DATA 1 and MD-DATA 2 have beendeveloped so far. The video camera according to the embodiment recordsand reproduces data corresponding to the MD-DATA 2 format that is ahigher record-density format than the MD-DATA 1 format. First of all,the disc format of the MD-DATA 2 format will be described.

FIGS. 1 and 2 conceptually show an example of the track structure of adisc corresponding to the MD-DATA 2 format. FIGS. 2A and 2B are anenlarged sectional view and an enlarged plan view showing a portionsurrounded by a dotted box A of FIG. 1, respectively.

As shown in those drawings, two types of grooves are pre-formed on thedisc surface. The first type groove is a wobbled groove WG of which agroove is wobbled. The second type groove is a non-wobbled groove NWG ofwhich a groove is not wobbled. The wobbled groove WG and the non-wobbledgroove NWG are formed in a double spiral shape on the disc so that aland Ld is formed therebetween.

In the MD-DATA 2 format, the land Ld is used as a record track (on whichdata is recorded). Since the wobbled groove WG and the non-wobbledgroove NWG are pre-formed in such a manner, two tracks Tr•A and Tr•B asrecord tracks are independently formed in a double spiral shape.

On the track Tr•A, the wobbled groove WG and the non-wobbled groove NWGare formed on the disc outer peripheral side and the disc innerperipheral side, respectively.

In contract, on the track Tr•B, the wobbled groove WG and thenon-wobbled groove NWG are formed on the disc inner peripheral side andthe disc outer peripheral side, respectively.

In other words, on the track Tr•A, a wobble is formed on only the discouter peripheral side. In contrast, on the track Tr•B, a wobble isformed on only the disc inner peripheral side.

In this case, the track pitch is the distance between the centerpositions of the adjacent track Tr•A and track Tr•B. As shown in FIG.2B, the track pitch is 0.95 im.

A wobble is formed on a groove as a wobbled groove WG corresponding to asignal of which a physical address on the disc is encoded by FMmodulation and bi-phase modulation. Thus, by demodulating informationreproduced from a wobbled groove, a physical address on the disc can beextracted.

Address information as a wobbled groove WG is in common with the trackTr•A and the track Tr•B. In other words, the track Tr•A and the trackTr•B formed on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral sideof the wobbled groove WG share address information assigned to a wobbleof the wobbled groove WG.

Such an addressing system is also referred to as interlace addressingsystem. Using the interlace addressing system, while cross talk betweenadjacent wobbles is suppressed, the track pitch can be decreased. Theaddressing system of which wobbles are formed on a groove as addressesis also referred to as ADIP (Adress in Pregroove) system.

Identification that represents which of the track Tr•A and the trackTr•B that share the same address information is currently traced isperformed in the following manner.

For example, using a three-beam system, while a main beam is tracing atrack (land Ld), the other two side beams trace grooves on both thesides of the track.

As a real example, FIG. 2B shows the state that a main beam spot SPm istracing the track Tr•A. In this case, a side beam spot SPs1 on the innerperipheral side traces the non-wobbled groove NWG, whereas a side beamspot SPs2 on the outer peripheral side traces the wobbled groove WG.

On the other hand, in the case that the main beam spot SPm is tracingthe track Tr•B, the side beam spot SPs1 traces the wobbled groove WG,whereas the side beam spot SPs2 traces the non-wobbled groove NWG (thiscase is not shown).

Thus, depending on whether the main beam spot SPm traces the track Tr•Aor the track Tr•B, the grooves that the side beam spots SPs1 and SPs2trace vary between the wobbled groove WG and the non-wobbled groove NWG.

The waveform of a detected signal obtained by a photo detector due tothe reflections of the side beam spots SPs1 and SPs2 varies depending onwhich of wobbled groove WG and the non-wobbled groove NWG the side beamspots SPs1 and SPs2 are tracing. Thus, depending on which of the sidebeam spots SPs1 and SPs2 is tracing the wobbled groove WG (or thenon-wobbled groove NWG), it can be determined which of the track (trackTr•A or the track Tr•B) the main beam is tracing.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the comparison of majorspecifications of the above-described MD-DATA 2 format and MD-DATA 1format.

In the MD-DATA 1 format, the track pitch is 1.6 μm; the pit length is0.59 μm/bit, the laser wavelength is λ=780 nm; and the aperture of anoptical head is NA=0.45.

The recording system of the MD-DATA 1 format is groove recording system.In other words, in the MD-DATA 1 format, a groove is used as a track forrecording and reproducing data.

As the addressing system in the MD-DATA 1 format, a groove (track) isformed in a single spiral shape. Wobbles are formed as addressinformation on both sides of the groove. In other words, as theaddressing system of the MD-DATA 1 format, a wobbled groove is used.

In the MD-DATA 1 format, as the record data modulating system, the EFM(eight-fourteen conversion) system is used. As the error correctionsystem, the ACIRC (Advanced Cross Interleave Reed-Solomon Code) is used.As the data interleave system, the convolution type is used. Thus, inthe MD-DATA 1 format, the data redundancy is 46.3%.

In the MD-DATA 1 format, as the disc driving system, the CLV (ConstantLinear Velocity) is used. The linear velocity of the CLV is 1.2 m/sec.The standard data rate in the record/reproduction mode is 133 kB/sec.The record capacity is 140 MB.

On the other hand, in the MD-DATA 2 format for the video cameraaccording to the embodiment, the track pitch is 0.95 μm and the pitlength is 0.39 μm/bit that are smaller than those in the MD-DATA 1format. In addition, to accomplish the above-mentioned pit length, thelaser wave length is λ=650 nm and the aperture rate of the optical headis NA=0.52 so that the beam spot diameter in the in-focus position isnarrowed and the band of the optical system is widened.

As was described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, as the recordingsystem, the land recording system is used. As the addressing system, theinterlace addressing system is used. As the record data modulatingsystem, RLL (1. 7) (RLL:Run Length Limited) system that is suitable forhigh density recording is used. As the error correction system, theRS-PC system is used. As the de-interleaving system, the blockcompletion type is used. As a result, in the MD-DATA 2 format, the dataredundancy is suppressed as low as 19. 7%.

In the MD-DATA 2 format, as the disc driving system, the CLV is used.The linear velocity is 2.0 m/sec. The standard data rate in the recordand reproduction modes is 589 kB/sec. The record capacity is 650 MB. Inthe MD-DATA 2 format, high density recording can be accomplished aroundfour times higher than that in the MD-DATA 1 format.

When a moving picture is recorded in the MD-DATA 2 format, if the movingpicture data is compression-encoded in the MPEG2 format, although therecord time depends on the bit rate of the encoded data, a movingpicture for 15 to 17 minutes can be recorded. When only audio signaldata is recorded, if it is compression-encoded in the ATRAC (AdaptiveTransform Acoustic Coding) 2 (trade mark) format, audio data for around10 hours can be recorded.

2. Appearance of Video Camera

Next, an example of the appearance of the video camera will bedescribed.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B are a plan view, a side view, a front view, anda rear view of the video camera according to the embodiment.

As shown in those drawings, a camera lens 201 is disposed at a frontportion of a main body 200 of the video camera according to theembodiment. The camera lens 201 comprises a photographing lens and adiaphragm for photographing a picture. A microphone 202 is disposed at afront lower portion of the main body 200. The microphone 202 is used tocollect an external sound when a picture is photographed. In otherwords, the video camera can record a picture photographed by the cameralens 201 and a stereo sound collected by the microphone 202. Inaddition, a speaker 205 is disposed at the same position as themicrophone 202. The speaker 205 outputs a reproduced sound. In addition,the speaker 205 outputs a particular message sound such as a beep sound.

A view finder 204 is disposed in the rear of the main body 200. Whilethe video camera is in the record mode, the standby mode, and so forth,the view finder 204 displays a picture captured from the camera lens 201(this picture is referred to as through picture), characters, and soforth. The user can photograph a picture while seeing the view finder204.

A portion that has a main dial 300, a release key 301, and an erase key302 functions as a battery cover portion 206 that can be opened andclosed. When the battery cover portion 206 is opened, a battery(rechargeable battery) can be mounted or dismounted.

A movable panel portion 203 is disposed on one side of the main body200. The movable panel portion 203 is supported by a movable supportingportion 208. With the movable supporting portion 208, the movable panelportion 203 is movably mounted to the main body 200. The expansion ofthe movable panel portion 203 will be described later.

A display panel 67 (display screen) is disposed in the rear of themovable panel portion 203. Thus, when the movable panel portion 203 isin the non-expanded state shown in FIG. 4B, the display panel 67 ishoused in the main body 200 in such a manner that the display panel 67faces the main body 200.

The display panel 67 is a portion that displays and outputs aphotographed picture. In addition, the display panel 67 displays andoutputs a picture and so forth that are reproduced by the internalrecording and reproducing device. Moreover, the display panel 67displays messages using text and characters corresponding to theoperations of the video camera. According to the embodiment, the displaydevice used as the display panel 67 is not limited. The display deviceis for example a liquid crystal display or the like.

In addition, the display panel 67 has a touch panel that senses apressing operation on the display surface of the liquid crystal displayand outputs the sensed result as operation information to the rearsurface thereof. In other words, according to the embodiment, anoperation as a so-called GUI for pressing a picture displayed on thedisplay panel 67 can be performed.

As an operation for the display panel 67, since the position at which apressure is applied on the touch panel is detected as coordinateposition information, a finger of the user or the like can be used.However, when the display area of the display panel 67 is limited, itmay be difficult to operate it with a finger of the user. To solve sucha problem, the video camera is accompanied by a stick type pen 320 asshown in FIG. 4B. Thus, the user can perform the pointing (touching)operation for the display panel 67 using the pen 320 instead of a fingerof the user.

A portion that houses the movable panel portion 203 on the main body 200side is a disc attaching/detaching portion 205. With the discattaching/detaching portion 205, a disc as a record medium for the videocamera according to the embodiment is attached and detached.

In addition, a video output terminal, a headphone/line terminal, and soforth (not shown) are disposed. The video output terminal is used tooutput a reproduced picture signal and so forth to an external videodevice. The headphone/line terminal is used to output a reproduced audiosignal to an external audio device and a headphone. Moreover, an I/Fterminal and so forth are disposed. The I/F terminal is used to transmitdata to an external data device corresponding to an interface function.

Each portion of the main body 200 has various switches used for the userto operate the main body 200. Next, major switches will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a main dial 300 is disposed in the rear of the mainbody 200. The main dial 300 is used to turn on/off the video camera andset the recording operation and the reproducing operation. The main dial300 is rotatably used.

When the main dial 300 is placed in a power off position PS2, the powerof the video camera is in the off state. When the main dial 300 isrotated from the off position to a reproduction/edit position PS1, thepower of the video camera is turned on. In the reproduction/editposition PS1, a recorded picture file can be reproduced. In addition,various editing operations can be performed. When the main dial 300 isrotated to a camera mode position PS3, a picture file as a movingpicture or a still picture can be recorded (camera mode) in the power onstate. When the main dial 300 is rotated to a camera mode position PS4,the video camera can be used in an interview mode.

In the interview mode (although detail description is omitted), as arecording operation, mainly a sound is recorded. At any desired points,when the release key 301 or a photo key 304 is pressed, photographedpictures are recorded as still pictures. When the reproducing operationis performed in the interview mode, pictures recorded in the interviewmode are reproduced. When the reproducing operation is performed in theinterview mode, while a sound is reproduced, recorded still pictures aresuccessively displayed at timings of which the still pictures have beenrecorded.

At the center of the rotating portion of the main dial 300, the releasekey 301 is disposed. The release key 301 functions as a record start/endswitch in the camera mode or the interview mode.

A so-called jog dial 303 is disposed at a rear position of the main body200. The jog dial 303 is an operating portion that can be rotated andpressed. The jog dial 303 is a disc shaped switch that can be rotatedforward and backward. The jog dial 303 is clicked at intervals of apredetermined angle. The jog dial 303 is actually combined with forexample a two-phase type rotary encoder in such a manner that one clickcorresponds to one rotating step. Thus, the jog dial 303 outputsinformation that represents the number of rotating steps correspondingto the rotating direction and the rotating angle.

In this case, the jog dial 303 can be pressed in the left direction ofFIG. 5B.

The erase key 302 functions as a decision key that causes datareproduced in a particular mode to be erased.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4A, a photo key 304, a zoom key 305, afocus key 306, and a rear light compensation key 307 are disposed at aside portion of the main body 200 in such a manner that those keysslightly face upwards.

When the photo key 304 is pressed in for example the camera mode, thephoto key 304 functions as a shutter for recording a picture file of astill picture.

The zoom key 305 is a switch for operating a zoom state (from the teleside to the wide side) of the lens optical system (camera lens 201).

The focus key 306 is a switch for switching the focus state (forexample, normal/infinity, etc.) of the lens optical system. The rearlight compensation key 307 is a switch for turning on/off the rear lightcompensation function.

In addition, as keys for file (track) recording and reproducingoperations, a reproduction/pause key 308, a stop key 309, a slowreproduction key 310, search keys 311 and 312, and a record key 313 aredisposed at a side portion of the main body 200 corresponding to themovable panel portion 203 as shown in FIG. 4B.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a screen display key 314 and audio volume keys 315and 316 are disposed at an upper portion of the main body 200. Thescreen display key 314 is used to display a picture on the display. Theaudio volume keys 315 and 316 are used to adjust the audio volume of thesound that is output from the speaker.

It should be noted that the appearance of the video camera shown inFIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B is just an example. In other words, theappearance may be changed corresponding to operation conditions and soforth required for the video camera according to the embodiment. Ofcourse, the types of switches, operating methods, connection terminalsfor external devices, and so forth may be varied.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the expansion of theabove-mentioned movable panel portion 203 will be described. In FIGS. 6Aand 6B, the appearance of the video camera is simplified.

The movable panel portion 203 can be expanded from the state shown inFIG. 4B to the state shown in FIG. 6A in the direction of an arrow YJ1.

In this case, the display screen (display panel 67) orients thephotographer side (view finder 204 side). Thus, the display panel 67almost faces opposite to the camera lens 201 that captures aphotographed picture. In the expanded state of the display panel 67shown in FIG. 6A, the photographer who holds the video camera canphotograph (record) a picture while monitoring a photographed picturedisplayed on the display panel 67.

In addition, the movable panel portion 203 can be rotated from the stateshown in FIG. 6A in the direction of an arrow YJ2 in the range of around180°. In other words, as shown in FIG. 6B, the display panel 67 can beplaced in the state of which the display panel 67 faces the object(camera lens) side.

In this state, the user who is on the object side can monitor aphotographed picture.

When a disc is attached or detached to/from the disc attaching/detachingportion 205, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the movable panel portion 203is expanded from the main body 200.

In addition, the movable panel portion 203 can be moved from the stateshown in FIG. 6B in the direction of an arrow YJ3. In that state, whilea picture is displayed on the display panel 67, the movable panelportion 203 can be housed in the main body 200 of the video camera.

When the display panel is rotated in the direction of the arrow YJ2, theorientation of the object displayed on the display panel 67 variesdepending on whether the display panel 67 faces the photographer side orthe object side. According to the embodiment, corresponding to therotated state of the movable panel portion 203, an inversion displaycontrol is performed so that the user (photographer and object) canproperly see the display picture on the display panel 67. As a result,such a problem can be solved.

3. Internal Structure of Video Camera

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal structureof the video camera according to the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, in a lens block 1, an optical system 11 isdisposed. The optical system 11 comprises a photographing lens and adiaphragm. The camera lens 201 shown in FIG. 4B is included in theoptical system 11. The lens block 1 has a motor portion 12. The motorportion 12 has a focus motor and a zoom motor. The focus motor is usedto perform an auto focus operation for the optical system 11. The zoommotor is used to move the zoom lens corresponding to the operation ofthe zoom key 304.

A camera block 2 has a circuit portion that mainly converts picturelight photographed by the lens block 1 into a digital picture signal.

An optical image of an object that passes through the optical system 11enters a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 21 of the camera block 2. The CCD21 photo-electrically converts the optical image and generates aphotographed picture signal. The photographed picture signal is suppliedto a sample hold/AGC (Automatic Gain Control) circuit 22. The samplehold/AGC circuit 22 adjusts the gain of the photographed picture signalthat is output from the CCD 21 and performs a sample hole process forthe photographed picture signal so as to trim the waveform thereof. Anoutput of the camera block 2 is supplied to a video A/D converter 23.The A/D converter 23 converts the analog signal into digital picturesignal data.

The timings of the signal processes of the CCD 21, the sample hold/AGCcircuit 22, and the video A/D converter 23 are controlled correspondingto a timing signal generated by a timing generator 24. The timinggenerator 24 inputs a clock signal used for a signal process of a dataprocessing/system controlling circuit 31 (of a video signal processingcircuit 3) and generates a predetermined timing signal corresponding tothe clock signal. Thus, the timing of the signal process of the camerablock 2 is synchronized with the timing of the process of the videosignal processing portion 3.

A camera controller 25 executes predetermined controls so that eachfunctional circuit portion of the camera block 2 properly operates. Inaddition, the camera controller 25 executes controls for the auto focus,automatic exposing adjustment, diaphragm adjustment, zoom, and so forthfor the lens block 1.

In the auto focus control, the camera controller 25 controls therotation angle of the focus motor corresponding to focus controlinformation obtained corresponding to a predetermined auto focuscontrolling system. Thus, the photographing lens can be driven in thejust focus state.

In the record mode, the video signal processing circuit 3 compresses adigital picture signal supplied from the camera block 2 and a digitalaudio signal collected by the microphone 202. The video signalprocessing portion 3 supplies the compressed data as user recorded datato a media driving portion 4 disposed downstream thereof. In addition,the video signal processing circuit 3 supplies a digital picture signalreceived from the camera block 2 and a character image to a view finderdriving portion 207. The view finder driving portion 207 displays thedigital picture and the character picture supplied from the video signalprocessing circuit 3.

In the reproduction mode, the video signal processing circuit 3demodulates user reproduced data (data that is read from a disc 51),namely, compressed picture signal data and audio signal data and outputsthem as a reproduced picture signal and a reproduced audio signal.

In the example, it is assumed that the compressing/decompressing systemfor picture signal data (picture data) of a moving picture and that of astill picture are the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 and the JPEG(Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group), respectively. In addition, itis assumed that the compressing/decompressing system for audio signaldata is the ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) 2.

The data processing/system controlling circuit 31 of the video signalprocessing portion 3 mainly executes the compressing/decompressingprocess for the picture signal data and audio signal data of the videosignal processing circuit 3 and a process for inputting/outputting datathrough the video signal processing portion 3.

The overall controlling process of the video signal processing portion 3including the data processing/system controlling circuit 31 is executedby a video controller 38. The video controller 38 comprises for examplea microcomputer. The video controller 38 can be mutually communicatedwith the camera controller 25 of the camera block 2 and a drivercontroller 46 of a media driving portion 4 (that will be describedlater) through a bus line (not shown).

As a basic operation of the video signal processing circuit 3 in therecord mode, the picture signal data is input from the video A/Dconverter 23 to the data processing/system controlling circuit 31. Thedata processing/system controlling circuit 31 supplies the input picturesignal data to for example a motion detecting circuit 35. Using forexample a memory 36 as a work area, the motion detecting circuit 35performs a picture process such as a motion compensating process for theinput picture signal data. Thereafter, the motion detecting circuit 35supplies the resultant picture signal data to an MPEG2 video signalprocessing circuit 33.

Using for example a memory 34 as a work area, the MPEG2 video signalprocessing circuit 33 performs a compression process for the inputpicture signal data corresponding to the MPEG2 format and outputs a bitstream (MPEG2 bit stream) of compressed data as a moving picture. TheMPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33 is structured so as to extractpicture data as a still picture from the picture signal data as a movingpicture and perform a compression process for the extracted picture datacorresponding to the JPEG format. Alternatively, an I picture (IntraPicture) that is normal picture data may be treated as compressedpicture data corresponding to the MPEG2 format rather than the JPEGformat.

The picture signal data (compressed picture data) that has beencompression-encoded by the MPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33 iswritten and temporarily stored to a buffer memory 32 at a predeterminedtransfer rate.

In the MPEG2 format, it is clear that as a so-called encoding bit rate(data rate), both the constant velocity (CBR: Constant Bit Rate) and thevariable velocity (VBR: Variable Bit Rate) are supported. The videosignal processing portion 3 can support the both.

When the video signal processing portion 3 performs a picturecompression process at the VBR, the motion detecting circuit 35 detectsthe motion of picture data in the range from for example earlier andlater several ten frames to several hundred frames for each macro block.When the motion detecting circuit 35 detects a motion, the motiondetecting circuit 35 sends the detected result as moving vectorinformation to the MPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33.

Using predetermined information such as motion vector information, theMPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33 decides a quantizingcoefficient for each macro block so that picture data that has beencompression-encoded has a predetermined data rate.

A sound that is collected by for example the microphone 202 is input asaudio signal data to an audio compression encoder/decoder 37 through anA/D converter 64 (of a display/video/audio input and output portion 6).

As was described above, the audio compression encoder/decoder 37performs a compression process for the audio signal data correspondingto the ATRAC2 format. The data processing/system controlling circuit 31also writes the compressed audio signal data to the buffer memory 32 ata predetermined transfer rate. The buffer memory 32 temporarily storesthe compressed audio signal data.

In such a manner, the buffer memory 32 can store the compressed picturedata and compressed audio signal data. The buffer memory 32 has afunction for absorbing the difference between the data transfer rate ofdata transferred between the camera block 2 or the display/video/audioinput and output portion 6 and the buffer memory 32 and the datatransfer rate of data transferred between the buffer memory 32 and amedia driving portion 4.

In the record mode, the compressed picture data and compressed audiodata stored in the buffer memory 32 are successively read at apredetermined timing and sent to an MD-DATA 2 encoder/decoder 41 of themedia driving portion 4. However, in the reproduction mode, theoperation for reading data stored in the buffer memory 32 and theoperation for recording the data that is read from the buffer memory 32to the disc 51 through the media driving portion 4 and a deck portion 5may be intermittently performed.

The write control and the read control for data to the buffer memory 32are executed by for example the data processing/system controllingcircuit 31.

In the reproduction mode, the video signal processing portion 3 canperform the following operation.

In the reproduction mode, compressed picture data and compressed audiodata (user reproduced data) that are read from the disc 51 and decodedcorresponding to the MD-DATA 2 format by the MD-DATA 2 encoder/decoder41 (of the media driving portion 4) are sent to the dataprocessing/system controlling circuit 31.

The data processing/system controlling circuit 31 temporarily stores thecompressed picture data and compressed audio data that have been inputto the buffer memory 32. The data processing/system controlling circuit31 reads the compressed picture data and compressed signal data from thebuffer memory 32 at a predetermined timing and a predetermined transferrate so that the reproduction time axes thereof match. The dataprocessing/system controlling circuit 31 supplies the compressed picturedata and the compressed audio data to the MPEG2 video signal processingcircuit 33 and the audio compression encoder/decoder 37, respectively.

The MPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33 performs a decompressionprocess for the compressed picture data that has been input and sendsthe resultant data to the data processing/system controlling circuit 31.The data processing/system controlling circuit 31 supplies thedecompressed picture signal data to a video D/A converter 61 (of thedisplay/video/audio input and output portion 6).

The audio compression encoder/decoder 37 performs a decompressionprocess for the compressed audio signal data that has been input andsupplies the decompressed audio signal data to a D/A converter 65 (ofthe display/video/audio input and output portion 6).

In the display/video/audio input and output portion 6, the video D/Aconverter 61 converts the input picture signal data into an analogpicture signal and supplies the analog picture signal to both a displaycontroller 62 and a composite signal processing circuit 63.

The display controller 62 drives a displaying portion 6A correspondingto the input picture signal. The displaying portion 6A displays areproduced picture. The displaying portion 6A can display not only apicture reproduced from the disc 51, but a picture photographed by thecamera portion composed of the lens block 1 and the camera block 2 onalmost real time basis.

As was described above, the displaying portion 6A displays messages withcharacters and so forth corresponding to the operation of the videocamera as well as a reproduced picture and a photographed picture. Sucha message is generated by the video controller 38. The video controller38 combines picture signal data such as predetermined characters topicture signal data that is output from the data processing/systemcontrolling circuit 31 to the video D/A converter 61 so that thepredetermined characters are displayed at a predetermined position.

The displaying portion 6A and a touch panel 6B compose the display panel67.

Position information at which a pressing operation is performed on thedisplaying portion 6A is detected by the touch panel 6B. The touch panel6B outputs the position information as operation information to thevideo controller 38.

The composite signal processing circuit 63 converts the analog picturesignal supplied from the video D/A converter 61 into a composite signaland outputs the composite signal to a video output terminal T1. When thevideo camera is connected to an external monitor device or the likethrough the video output terminal T1, a picture reproduced by the videocamera can be displayed on the external monitor device.

In the display/video/audio input and output portion 6, the D/A converter65 inputs audio signal data from the audio compression encoder/decoder37, converts the audio signal data into an analog audio signal, andoutputs the analog audio signal to a headphone/line terminal T2. Theanalog audio signal that is output from the D/A converter 65 is alsooutput to a speaker 205 through an amplifier 66. The speaker 205 outputsa reproduced sound or the like.

Mainly, in the record mode, the media driving portion 4 encodes datathat is recorded corresponding to the MD-DATA 2 format for the disc andsends the encoded data to a deck portion 5. In the reproduction mode,the deck portion 5 performs a decode process for data that is read fromthe disc 51, obtains reproduced data, and sends it to the video signalprocessing portion 3.

In the record mode, an MD-DATA 2 encoder/decoder 41 of the media drivingportion 4 inputs data that is recorded (compressed picturedata+compressed audio data) from the data processing/system controllingcircuit 31, encodes the data corresponding to the MD-DATA 2 format, andtemporarily stores the encoded data to a buffer memory 42. While readingdata at a predetermined timing, the MD-DATA 2 encoder/decoder 41 sendsthe data to the deck portion 5.

In the reproduction mode, the MD-DATA 2 encoder/decoder 41 decodes adigital signal that is read from the disc 51 and input through an RFsignal processing circuit 44 and a digitizing circuit 43 correspondingto the MD-DATA 2 format and sends the decoded data as reproduced data tothe data processing/system controlling circuit 31 of the video signalprocessing portion 3.

When necessary, the reproduced data is temporarily stored to the buffermemory 42. At a particular timing, the reproduced data is read from thebuffer memory 42 and sent to the data processing/system controllingcircuit 31. The writing control and the reading control for the data tothe buffer memory 42 is executed by the driver controller 46.

In the reproduction mode, in the case that a servo control does not workdue to a disturbance or the like and thereby a signal cannot be readfrom the disc 51, while data that is read from the disc 51 is stored inthe buffer memory 42, when the reproducing operation for the disc isresumed, the chronological continuity of the reproduced data can bemaintained.

The RF signal processing circuit 44 performs a predetermined process fora signal that is read from the disc 51 so as to generate an RF signal asreproduced data and servo control signals such as a focus error signaland a tracking error signal for controlling the servo control of thedeck portion 5. The RF signal is supplied to the digitizing circuit 43.The digitizing circuit 43 digitizes the RF signal and inputs thedigitized signal as digital signal data to the MD-DATA 2 encoder/decoder41.

The generated servo control signals are supplied to a servo circuit 45.The servo circuit 45 executes a predetermined servo control for the deckportion 5 corresponding to the input servo control signals.

In the example, an encoder/decoder 47 corresponding to the MD-DATA 1format is disposed. The encoder/decoder 47 encodes data supplied fromthe video signal processing portion 3 corresponding to the MD-DATA 1format and records the encoded data to the disc 51. Alternatively, whendata that is read from the disc 51 has been encoded corresponding to theMD-DATA 1 format, the encoder/decoder 47 decodes the data and outputsthe decoded data to the video signal processing portion 3. The videocamera according to the embodiment is structured so that it hascompatibility with both the MD-DATA 2 format and the MD-DATA 1 format.

The driver controller 46 is a functional circuit portion that totallycontrols the media driving portion 4.

The deck portion 5 is a portion composed of a mechanism that drives thedisc 51. The deck portion 5 can attach and detach the disc 51. The deckportion 5 has a mechanism (disc slot 203, see FIG. 4B) that allows theuser to change the disc 51. The disc 51 is a magneto-optical disccorresponding to the MD-DATA 2 format or the MD-DATA 1 format.

In the deck portion 5, a spindle motor 52 that rotates the attached disc51 at the CLV. In the record/reproduction mode, an optical head 53radiates laser light to the disc 51.

In the record mode, the optical head 53 outputs a high level laser thatheats a record track until the Curie temperature. In the reproductionmode, the optical head 53 outputs a relatively low level laser fordetecting data with reflected light corresponding to the magneto-opticKerr effect. To do that, the optical head 53 has an optical system and adetector. The optical system comprises a laser diode (as a laser outputmeans), a polarization beam splitter, and an objective lens. Thedetector detects the reflected light. The objective lens of the opticalhead 53 is held by a two-axes mechanism so that the object lens can bemoved in the disc radius direction (tracking direction) and the discnear/far direction (focus direction).

A magnetic head 54 is disposed on the opposite side of the disc 51 insuch a manner that the disc 51 is sandwiched by the optical head 53 andthe magnetic head 54. The magnetic head 54 applies a magnetic fieldmodulated by record data to the disc 51.

The deck portion 5 also has a thread mechanism driven by a thread motor55. By the thread mechanism, the entire optical head 53 and the magnetichead 54 can be moved in the disc radius direction.

An operating portion 7 corresponds to each switch shown in FIGS. 4A and4B. Various operation information of operations performed by the userwith those switches is output to for example the video controller 38.

The video controller 38 supplies control information that causes eachportion to execute an operation corresponding to operation informationthat is output from the touch panel 6B and the operating portion 7 tothe camera controller 25 and the driver controller 46.

An external interface 8 is disposed so that data can be exchangedbetween the video camera and an external device. For example, as shownin the drawing, the external interface 8 is disposed between an I/Fterminal T3 and the video signal processing portion. The externalinterface 8 is not limited to a particular type. In this example, theexternal interface 8 may be for example the IEEE 1394 interface.

When an external digital video device and the video camera according tothe embodiment as an example are connected through the I/F terminal T3,a picture (sound) photographed by the video camera can be recorded tothe external digital video device. When picture (audio) data or the likethat is reproduced by the external digital video device is capturedthrough the external interface 8, the captured picture data can berecorded to the disc 51 corresponding to the MD-DATA 2 format (or theMD-DATA 1 format). In addition, character information for a caption orthe like can be captured and recorded as a file.

A power supply block 9 supplies a predetermined power supply voltage toeach functional circuit portion using a DC power supply obtained from abuilt-in battery or a DC power supply generated by a commercial AC powersupply. The power on/off operation of the power supply block 9 iscontrolled by the video controller 38 corresponding to the operation ofthe main dial 300.

In the record mode, the video controller 38 executes a lightingoperation for an indicator 206.

4. Structure of Media Driving Portion

Next, the detailed structure of a functional circuit portioncorresponding to the MD-DATA 2 format in the media driving portion 4shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to a block diagramshown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows the deck portion 5 along with the mediadriving portion 4. Since the internal structure of the deck portion 5has been described with reference to FIG. 7, similar portions aredenoted by similar reference numerals and their description is omitted.In FIG. 8, for the media driving portion 4, similar portions to those inFIG. 7 are denoted by similar reference numerals.

Information (an optical current detected as laser reflected light by thephoto detector) detected as a data reading operation of the optical head53 against the disc 51 is supplied to an RF amplifier 101 of the RFsignal processing circuit 44.

The RF amplifier 101 generates a reproduced RF signal as a reproducedsignal with the detected information that is input and supplies thegenerated signal to the digitizing circuit 43. The digitizing circuit 43digitizes the reproduced RF signal that is input and obtains a digitizedRF signal as a digital signal.

The digitized RF signal is supplied to the MD-DATA 2 encoder/decoder 41.In the MD-DATA 2 encoder/decoder 41, an AGC/clamping circuit 103 adjuststhe gain and performs a clamp process for the digitized RF signal. Theresultant signal is input to an equalizer/PLL circuit 104.

The equalizer/PLL circuit 104 performs an equalizing process for theinput digitized RF signal and outputs the resultant signal to a Viterbidecoder 105. In addition, the equalizer/PLL circuit 104 inputs theequalized digitized RF signal to a PLL circuit. The PLL circuit extractsa clock CLK that synchronizes with the digitized RF signal (RLL (1, 7)code sequence).

The frequency of the clock CLK corresponds to the disc rotatingvelocity. Thus, a CLV processor 111 inputs the clock CLK from theequalizer/PLL circuit 104, compares the clock CLK with a reference valuecorresponding to a predetermined CLV (see FIG. 3), and obtains errorinformation. The error information is used as a signal component forgenerating a spindle error signal SPE. The clock CLK is used forprocesses of an RLL (1, 7) demodulating circuit 106 and a predeterminedsignal processing circuit system.

The Viterbi decoder 105 performs a decode process for the digitized RFsignal that is input from the equalizer/PLL circuit 104 corresponding tothe so-called Viterbi decoding method and obtains reproduced data as anRLL (1, 7) code sequence.

The reproduced data is input to the RLL (1, 7) demodulating circuit 106.The RLL (1, 7) demodulating circuit 106 demodulates the reproduced datacorresponding to the RLL (1, 7) code sequence.

The data stream demodulated by the RLL (1, 7) demodulating circuit 106is written to the buffer memory 42 through a data bus 114 and expandedto the buffer memory 42.

An ECC processing circuit 116 performs an error correction process forthe data stream expanded in the buffer memory 42 for each errorcorrection block corresponding to the RS-PC system. In addition, adescrambling/DEC decoding circuit 117 performs a descramble process andan EDC decode process (error detection process) for the data stream.

The resultant data becomes reproduced data DATAp. The reproduced dataDATAp is sent from for example the descrambling/DEC decoding circuit 117to the data processing/system controlling circuit 31 of the video signalprocessing portion 3 at a transfer rate corresponding to the transferclock generated by a transfer clock generating circuit 121.

The transfer clock generating circuit 121 is a portion that generates atransfer clock with a proper frequency (data transfer rate) necessaryfor data transferred between the media driving portion 4 and the videosignal processing portion 3 and data transferred between two functionalcircuit portions of the media driving portion 4 using a clock generatedby for example a crystal oscillator.

The transfer clock generating circuit 121 generates a clock with apredetermined frequency supplied to each functional circuit portion ofthe media driving portion 4 and the video signal processing portion 3corresponding to the operation state of the video camera.

Detected information (optical current) that is read from the disc 51 bythe optical head 53 is also supplied to a matrix amplifier 107.

The matrix amplifier 107 performs a predetermined calculation processfor the input detected information and extracts a tracking error signalTE, a focus error signal FE, groove information (absolute addressinformation recorded as a wobbled groove WG on the disc 51) GFM, and soforth from the input detected information, and supplies the extractedsignals and information to the servo circuit 45. In other words, theextracted tracking error signal TE and focus error signal FE aresupplied to a servo processor 112. On the other hand, the grooveinformation GFM is supplied to an ADIP band pass filter 108.

The groove information GFM that has been band-passed by the ADIP bandpass filter 108 is supplied to an A/B track detecting circuit 109, anADIP decoder 110, and the CLV processor 111.

The A/B track detecting circuit 109 determines which of the track Tr•Aand track Tr•B is being currently traced corresponding to the inputgroove information GFM in the method shown in FIG. 2B. The A/B trackdetecting circuit 109 outputs the determined track information to thedriver controller 46. In addition, the ADIP decoder 110 decodes theinput groove information GFM and extracts an ADIP signal as absoluteaddress information of the disc and outputs the ADIP signal to thedriver controller 46. The driver controller 46 executes a predeterminedcontrol process corresponding to the determined track information andthe ADIP signal.

The CLV processor 111 inputs the clock CLK from the equalizer/PLLcircuit 104 and the groove information GFM through the ADIP band passfilter 108. The CLV processor 111 generates the spindle error signal SPEfor the CLV servo control corresponding to the error signal obtained byintegrating the phase difference between the groove information GFM andthe clock CLK. The CLV processor 111 outputs the generated spindle errorsignal SPE to the servo processor 112. An operation executed by the CLVprocessor 111 is controlled by the driver controller 46.

The servo processor 112 generates various servo control signals (atracking control signal, a focus control signal, a thread controlsignal, a spindle control signal, and so forth) corresponding to thetracking error signal TE, the focus error signal FE, and the spindleerror signal SPE and corresponding to a track jump instruction, anaccess instruction, and so forth and outputs the generated signals to aservo driver 113.

The servo driver 113 generates predetermined servo drive signalscorresponding to the servo control signals supplied from the servoprocessor 112. In this example, the servo drive signals are two-axesdrive signals (focus direction and tracking direction) for driving thetwo-axes mechanism, a thread motor driving signal for driving the threadmechanism, and a spindle motor drive signal for driving the spindlemotor 52.

Since the servo drive signals are supplied to the deck portion 5, thefocus control and the tracking control for the disc 51 and the CLVcontrol for the spindle motor 52 are performed.

When the recording operation is executed for the disc 51, for examplerecord data DATAr that is recorded is input from the dataprocessing/system controlling circuit 31 of the video signal processingportion 3 to a scrambling/EDC encoding circuit 115. The user record dataDATAr is input in synchronization with for example the transfer clock(data transfer rate) generated by the transfer clock generating circuit121.

The scrambling/EDC encoding circuit 115 writes and expands the recorddata DATAr to the buffer memory 42 so as to perform a data scrambleprocess and an EDC encode process (an error detected code adding processcorresponding to a predetermined system). Thereafter, for example an ECCprocessing circuit 116 adds error correction code corresponding to theRS-PC system to the record data DATAr expanded in the buffer memory 42.

The resultant record data DATAr is read from the buffer memory 42 andsupplied to an RLL (1, 7) modulating circuit 118 through a data bus 114.

The RLL (1, 7) modulating circuit 118 performs an RLL (1, 7) modulationprocess for the input record data DATAr and outputs record data as anRLL (1, 7) code sequence to a magnetic head driving circuit 119.

In the MD-DATA 2 format, the so-called laser strobe magnetic fieldmodulation system is used as a recording system for the disc. The laserstrobe magnetic field modulation system is a recording system forapplying the magnetic field modulated corresponding to record data tothe disc record surface and emitting pulse light in synchronization withthe record data.

In such a laser strobe magnetic field modulating system, the process forforming a pit edge recorded on the disc does not depend on the transitcharacteristics such as inversion velocity of the magnetic field, butthe timing of the radiation of laser pulses.

Thus, in comparison with for example a simple magnetic field modulationsystem (of which laser light is constantly radiated to a disc and amagnetic field modulated corresponding to record data is applied to therecord surface of the disc), in the laser strobe magnetic fieldmodulating system, the jitter of record pits can be remarkablydecreased. In other words, the laser strobe magnetic field modulatingsystem is suitable for a high density recording system.

A magnetic head driving circuit 119 of the media driving portion 4operates so that a magnetic field modulated corresponding to inputrecord data is applied from the magnetic head 54 to the disc 51. Inaddition, the RLL (1, 7) modulating circuit 118 outputs a clock thatsynchronizes with the record data to a laser driver 120. The laserdriver 120 drives a laser diode of the optical head 53 so that laserpulses synchronized with record data generated as the magnetic field bythe magnetic head 54 are radiated to the disc. At that point, the laserpulses emitted from the laser diode corresponds to a predetermined laserpower for recording data. In such a manner, the recording operationcorresponding to the laser strobe magnetic field modulation system canbe performed by the media driving portion 4.

5. Example of Disc Structure Corresponding to Embodiment

Next, an example of the data structure of the disc 51 according to theembodiment will be described.

First of all, data units referred to as sector and cluster in theMD-DATA 2 format will be described.

A sector is the minimum unit of which data is physically read from adisc. Each sector is assigned a PSA (Physical Sector Address).

A cluster is the minimum unit of which data is physically written to adisc. One cluster is composed of a group of 16 sectors whose PSAs are 0hto Fh. Each cluster is assigned a PCA (Physical Cluster Address). Asector at the lead-in area that is a pre-mastered area (that will bedescribed later) can be identified with a PCA. There are two clusterswith the same PCA on the track Tr•A and track Tr•B.

FIG. 9 shows the concept of an example of the data management of thedisc 51 according to the embodiment. The physical format of the disc 51shown in FIG. 9 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

On the disc 51, a PTOC and an RTOC are formed as management information.The PTOC contains predetermined management information with pits. Thecontent of the PTOC cannot be rewritten.

The RTOC contains basic information necessary for managing data recordedon the disc.

In this example, the RTOC contains information for managing tracks (maybe synonym of files) and folders (that are structures for managingtracks as groups) in the record and reproduction modes.

The content of the RTOC is often rewritten corresponding to datarecorded on the disc and the result of the editing process such as anerasing process for a track (file) or a folder.

User data is managed as a volume folder placed in one root folder. Inthe embodiment, a volume is defined as a complete set of user data. Itis defined that one disc contains only one volume. Data contained in thevolume is placed in the volume folder, other folders, and tracks exceptfor information managed by the PTOC and the RTOC.

In the volume folder, a volume index track (VIT) having a predeterminedsize (for example, 12 clusters) is placed.

The PTOC and the RTOC are defined as main management information. On theother hand, the volume index track is defined as an area for submanagement information. The volume index track has a table that containsproperties of tracks (files), folders, and auxiliary data, titlesthereof, and information for managing packet data that compose tracks.

As a track managed in the volume folder, a thumbnail picture track canbe optionally placed.

According to the embodiment, one still picture with a predeterminedresolution can be stored as a thumbnail picture corresponding to eachfile recorded on the disc. A thumbnail picture can be treated as analternative picture that allows the user to visually recognize a file.

A thumbnail track contains correlation information with a file (track)recorded on the disc and index information of the location of athumbnail picture. The data length of the thumbnail track can beextended corresponding to the number of thumbnail pictures recorded onthe disc.

Video/audio data that is for example photographed by the user andrecorded on the disc is managed in the unit of a file. The video/audiodata is placed as a track below the volume folder. Alternatively,video/audio data is placed in a folder below the volume folder.

FIG. 9 shows the state that one file is represented as one track and thetrack is stored in one folder. As was described above, a folder is astructure of which tracks or sub folders are managed as one group.

Below the volume folder, any number of tracks and any number of folderscan be stored in the range of up to the maximum number of tracks and upto the maximum number of hierarchical levels of folders.

The volume folder also contains an auxiliary data track that storesauxiliary data.

Information stored in the auxiliary data track depends on for example anapplication that is actually used.

According to the embodiment, script information as the reproductioncontrol information is stored. Picture data (image) that is superimposedwith picture data that is created by “scribble edit” for a track(recorded file) is also stored in the auxiliary data track.

The above-described PTOC and RTOC and information stored in the volumeindex track (they together are referred to as “management information”)are read from a disc when it is attached to the video camera. Forexample, such information is stored to a predetermined area of thebuffer memory 42 of the media driving portion 4 (or the buffer memory32). In the record mode and edit mode, the management information storedin the buffer memory is rewritten corresponding to the record result andedit result. Thereafter, at a particular timing, the managementinformation of the disc 51 is rewritten and updated corresponding to thecontent of the management information stored in the buffer memory(however, the PTOC is not updated).

FIG. 10 shows the relation between the data management structure shownin FIG. 9 and the physical structure of the disc 51.

In FIG. 10, a lead-in area is a pit area on the innermost periphery ofthe disc. The lead-in area contains information of the PTOC.

A recordable area is formed as an outer periphery of the lead-in areathrough a transition area. The recordable area is a magneto-opticalrecord area to and from which data can be magneto-optically recorded andreproduced. As was described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, twotracks Tr•A and Tr•B are formed in a double spiral shape.

On the innermost periphery of the recordable area, RTOC areas are formedon both the track Tr•A and track Tr•B. In the RTOC area on the trackTr•A, information of the RTOC of four clusters is repeatedly recordedthree times. After the information of the RTOC, a volume index track of12 clusters is placed.

After the volume index track, a thumbnail track can be optionally placedon the disc 51. The thumbnail track in the RTOC area contains at leastthe first cluster of a file. As the number of files becomes large, theamount of thumbnail picture data increases. When the amount of thumbnailpicture data exceeds the record capacity of the thumbnail track in theROTC area, the data that is not recorded in the thumbnail track isadditionally recorded to a recordable data area (that will be describedlater). In this case, the thumbnail track in the recordable data area ismanaged on the volume index track (or the RTOC).

After the thumbnail track in the RTOC area, an area for a script and anarea for image data as auxiliary data can be optionally placed on thedisc 51.

When the amount of the script data and the image data exceeds the recordcapacity of the RTOC area, the script data and the image data that arenot recorded in the RTOC area can be additionally recorded to therecordable data area in such a manner that they are managed on thevolume index track (or the RTOC).

The recordable data area starts from an address position denoted byrecordable data area start address W. The recordable data area containsAV data—namely, data of tracks (files). In addition, the recordable dataarea contains thumbnail picture data and auxiliary data.

After the recordable data area, a lead-out area is formed from anaddress position denoted by a lead-out area start address L to theoutermost periphery.

The above-described area allocation is dedicated for the track Tr•A.However, as is clear from FIG. 10, the above-described area allocationis also applied for the track Tr•B. However, currently, the RTOC areafor the track Tr•B has not been defined. In other words, the RTOC areais substantially used for only the track Tr•A.

It should not be noted that the disc structure described with referenceto FIGS. 9 and 10 is just an example. In other words, the physicallocations of individual areas on the disc may be varied corresponding toactual operation conditions of the video camera. In addition, the datastructure can be changed.

6. Data End Position Change Editing Operation

6-1. Outline of Operation 1 (in the Case of Camera Mode)

In the video camera according to the embodiment, as an easy editingfunction, a data portion after a particular position of the last trackof data managed in the unit of a file (track) on the disc can be erased.This operation is referred to as data end position change editingoperation.

The data end position change editing function is performed for a cameramode track that contains video data of a moving picture (or stillpicture data) photographed in the camera mode and an interview trackthat contains sound/still picture data recorded in the interview mode asa file recorded on the disc.

In the data end position change editing operation, the main dial 300 isplaced in the camera mode position or the interview mode position. Inaddition, when data can be recorded to a camera mode track or aninterview track, the data end position change editing operation can beperformed.

First of all, with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11D, the process andoperation for changing the data end position in the case that the maindial 300 is placed in the camera mode position will be described.

As was described above, in the camera mode, when the release key 301 orthe photo key 304 is operated, the video camera enters the mode in whichvideo data of a moving picture or a still picture can be recorded.

According to the embodiment, in the camera mode, the reproduction/pausekey 308 can be operated. When the reproduction/pause key 308 isoperated, the last track (with the last track number) is selected fromtracks recorded on the disc.

Since the camera mode has been selected, the last track of the cameramode track recorded on the disc in the camera mode is selected. In otherwords, interview mode tracks recorded in the interview mode and tracksrecorded or created in other than the camera mode are not selected.

The last camera mode-track that has been selected in the above-describedmanner is reproduced.

In other words, as shown in FIG. 11A, data is reproduced from a startaddress A1 of the last track. A picture of the last track reproduced insuch a manner is displayed on the display panel 67. The user can see thepicture of the last track on the display panel 67. At that point, asound recorded through a microphone along with a moving picture isreproduced in synchronization with the moving picture.

In FIG. 11A, an area after an address A3 preceded by an end address A2of the last track is a blank area.

While data is being reproduced from the last track, the user can pausethe reproducing operation at his or her desired position of the lasttrack. To perform the pausing operation, the user may operate thereproduction/pause key 308 again. The user selects the pause position asthe data end position that he or she desires. In other words, the pauseposition corresponds to the start position of a data portion that theuser wants to erase.

The position at which the reproduction is paused by the pausingoperation performed by the user is denoted by a pose position Pst1 inFIG. 11A.

When the user has performed the pausing operation, a picture that wasdisplayed before the pausing operation is displayed as a still pictureon the display panel 67. In other words, a picture of data correspondingto the pause position Pst1 shown in FIG. 11A is displayed as a stillpicture on the display panel 67. In the state, when the jog dial 303 isrotated, a picture is displayed frame by frame starting from the pauseposition Pst1 shown in FIG. 11A corresponding to the rotating directionof the jog dial 303.

When the frame-by-frame reproducing operation is considered in therelation between the data and the pause position, as shown in FIG. 11B,the pause position Pst1 corresponding to the initial pause position ischanged to a pause position Pst2 corresponding to the rotating operationof the jog dial 303.

While seeing a picture on the display screen, the user changes the pauseposition Pst1. Finally, the user can finely adjust the data end positionthat he or she wants to change.

In such a manner, it is assumed that the user has finely adjusted thepause position and finally designated the pause position Pst2 (in thisexample, the last pause position pst2 may become Pst1). Thereafter, theuser operates the erase key 302.

When the user operates the erase key, the video camera reproduces datain the area from the final pause position pst2 to the end address A2 ofthe last track as shown in FIG. 11C so that the user can check the dataend position that he or she wants to change. At that point, the videocamera outputs reproduced picture/sound. The data in the area is a dataportion that is erased. The data in the area is repeatedly reproduced.

The user sees the repeatedly reproduced picture on the display panel 67.Thus, the user can check the picture that he or she wants to erase.

At that point, a dialog that allows the user to decide the erasingoperation or cancel it is displayed on the display screen. The userperforms the deciding operation with the dialog by rotating and pressingthe jog dial 303. The dialog displays two buttons that are a cancelbutton and an erase decision button. The user can select one of the twobuttons by rotating the jog dial 303. To click a button (perform thedeciding operation), the user presses the jog dial 303.

When the user wants to cancel the designated start position of the dataportion that is erased (namely, the final pause position Pst2), he orshe performs a canceling operation with the dialog. Thus, the videocamera cancels the designated start position of the data portion andenters the record standby state in the normal camera mode.

On the other hand, when the user decides the designated start positionof the data portion that is erased, he or she performs the erasingoperation with the dialog.

When the user decides the designated start position of the data portionthat is erased, the data area of the last track is changed from thestart address A1 to an end address A2-1 as shown in FIG. 1D. In otherwords, the end address of the last track is changed from the address A2shown in FIGS. 11A and 11C to the address A2-1 that is immediatelyfollowed by an address designated with the final pause position Pst2followed by the address A2 shown in FIG. 11D.

At that point, for example management information is changed so that thechanged end address A2-1 becomes the end address of the last track.According to the embodiment, at least the contents of the RTOC and thevolume index track are updated. When a script file corresponding to thelast track is recorded on the disc and the content of the script fileshould be changed corresponding to the change of the last address, thescript file is also updated.

As described above, after the end address of data is changed, as shownin FIG. 11D, an area after the address A2-2 immediately preceded by theaddress A2-1 is managed as a blank area. Thus, when the video camerareproduces the last track, it stops the reproduction of the last trackat the end address A2-1.

On the disc, data of the original last track is left in the area fromthe address A2-2 to A2 shown in FIG. 11D. However, the area is managedas a blank area.

After the end address of data has been changed in such a manner, when atrack is newly recorded in the camera mode, before the end address ofthe data is changed, the last track is managed as a track immediatelyfollowed by the newly recorded track. The newly recorded track becomesthe last track. When the two tracks are successively reproduced, thearea from the start address A1 to the end address A2-1 is reproduced asa track immediately followed by the last track. Thereafter, the newlyrecorded last track is reproduced as the last track.

In other words, according to the embodiment, when the data end position(end address) is changed, an area after any desired data position of thelast track is erased in the camera mode. Thereafter, a new track isrecorded as the last track. At that point, when the user properlyselects a data position of the last track (pause position Pst1), he orshe can easily perform a picture connecting and editing operation.

When the user erases a data portion after the pause position Pst1 of thelast track, he or she can easily erase the data by simple operations ofa reproduction pausing operation and an erase key operation except foradditional operations that are frame-by-frame reproducing operation andcancel deciding/erase deciding operation in consideration of userfriendliness and safety against mistaken data erase.

In this case, the data end position represents the data end position ofeach track. However, in this case, since an object track of which thedata end position is changed is the last track, the data end position isthe end position of user data (that is limited to data of a camera modetrack).

In addition, in this case, the area from the designated pause positionPst2 to the end address A2 is an object that is erased. Alternatively,the pause position Pst2 may be designated as the end address A2-1.

In the case of a picture, since the pause position is designated in theunit of a frame, the end address A2-1 is the end address of a pictureone frame prior to the picture designated by the pause position Pst2.

6-2. Outline of Operation 2 (in the Case of Interview Mode)

Next, with reference to FIGS. 12A to 12D, the process and operation inthe case that a data end position is changed in the interview modeposition of the main dial 300 will be described. As will be describedlater, the process and operation in the case that a data end position ischanged in the interview mode is the same as those in the camera modedescribed with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11D.

In the interview mode, when the user operates the record key 313, asound collected by the microphone 202 is recorded. While the sound ofthe microphone is being recorded, when the user operates the photo key304 (or the release key 301), a still picture is recorded. When data isreproduced from an interview track in the reproduction/edit mode, thevideo camera reproduces a sound and displays still pictures at timingsof which they have been recorded.

When the user operates the reproduction/pause key 308 in the interviewmode, the last track is selected from tracks recorded on the disc.

At that point, in the interview mode, as the last track, the last trackis selected from interview mode tracks recorded in the interview mode.

As shown in FIG. 12A, data of the last interview track is reproduced. Atthat point, a reproduced sound of the interview track is output. Inaddition, still pictures are displayed at timings of which they havebeen recorded. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 12A, the lastinterview track contains a still picture 1 and a still picture 2. Afterdata of the last interview track is reproduced, the still picture 1 isdisplayed at reproduction time t1. The still picture 2 is displayed atreproduction time t2. In this case, the still picture 2 is continuouslydisplayed until the end of the track.

Likewise, in FIG. 12A, an area after an address A3 immediately precededby an end address A2 of the last track is a blank area.

In this case, the user can perform a pausing operation at his or herdesired position of the last track. When the user performs the pausingoperation at a pause position Pst1 shown in FIG. 12A, the output of thereproduced sound is paused. In addition, when a still picture wasdisplayed before the pausing operation is performed, the still pictureis repeatedly displayed. In the case shown in FIG. 12A, when the pausingoperation was performed, since the still picture 2 was displayed, thestill picture 2 is displayed on the display panel 67.

In the interview mode, when the jog dial 303 is rotated, the sound isalso reproduced for each sound element. In other words, at the pauseposition Pst1 shown in FIG. 12B, an address of audio data is changed.

When the pause position Pst1 is changed by the element-by-element soundreproducing operation (not shown), if a still picture changescorresponding to an address of the pause position Pst1, the changedstill picture is displayed.

After the user has adjusted the pause position Pst and finallydesignated a pause position Pst2, when the user operates the erase key302, as shown in FIG. 12C, the video camera repeatedly reproduces audiodata in the area from the final pause position pst2 to the end addressA2 of the last track. When this area contains a still picture, the videocamera also outputs the still picture. In the example shown in FIG. 12C,the video camera displays the still picture 2 in addition to reproducingthe sound. In this case, data in the area repeatedly reproduced is adata portion that is erased.

A dialog is displayed on the display screen. The dialog displays twobuttons that are a cancel button and an erase decision button. The useroperates the cancel button and the erase decision button by rotating andpressing the jog dial 303.

When the user operates the cancel button, the video camera cancels thedesignated area and enters the record standby state in the regularcamera mode.

On the other hand, when the user operates the erase decision button, asshown in FIG. 12D, the area of data of the last track is changed to anarea from the start address A1 to the end address A2-1. Thereafter, forexample management information (the RTOC, the volume index track, thescript file, and so forth) is updated so that the changed end addressA2-1 becomes the end address of the last track.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 12D, an area after the address A2-2immediately preceded by the address A2-1 is managed as a blank area.When data of the last track is reproduced, a sound is reproduced fromthe address A1. Thereafter, the still picture 1 is displayed from thereproduction time t1 to the reproduction time t2. At the end addressA2-1, the reproduction of the still picture 2 is completed.

6-3. Process

Next, the process for accomplishing the data end position changingoperation will be described with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG.13.

In this example, the process in the camera mode (see FIGS. 11A to 11D)will be described. In the process shown in FIG. 13, the video controller38 functions as a master controller. When necessary, the dataprocessing/system controlling circuit 31, the camera controller 25, thedriver controller 46, and so forth perform respective control processesso as to accomplish the process for the data end position changingoperation. In the following description, the individual controllers aresimply referred to as controller.

At step S101, the camera mode is designated. At step S102, thecontroller determines whether or not the user has performed a recordingoperation. When the determined result at step S102 is No, the flowadvances to step S103. At step S103, the controller determines whetheror not the user has performed a reproducing operation. When thedetermined result at step S103 is. No, the flow returns to step S101.The state that the controller waits for the recording operation or thereproducing operation at step S102 or step S103 is a standby state inthe camera mode.

When the determined result at step S102 is Yes (namely, the user hasoperated the release key 301 for recording a moving picture) or thephoto key 304 for recording a still picture, the flow advances to stepS114. At step S114, the controller executes a control process forrecording the still picture as moving picture data or still picture datato the disc. At step S115, the controller determines whether or not therecording operation has been completed. When the determined result atstep S115 is No (namely, unless the recording operation has beencompleted), the flow returns to step S114. Thus, the recording operationis continued.

The controller determines whether the record space of the disc run out,a still picture has been recorded, or the record stop operation has beenperformed (at step S115). When the determined result at step S115 isYes, the flow advances to step S116. At step S116, the controllerperforms a control process for completing the recording operation(including an updating operation for the management informationcorresponding to the recorded result). Thereafter, the flow returns tostep S101. In other words, the controller enters the standby state.

When the determined result at step S103 is Yes (namely, the user hasperformed the reproducing operation using the reproduction/pause key308), the flow advances to step S104. At step S104, the controllerstarts reproducing the last track as a camera mode track. The controllerrepeats the reproducing operation for the last track until thecontroller detects a pausing operation. At that point, the controlleralso executes a control for displaying a moving picture as reproduceddata on the display panel 67.

When the determined result at step S105 is Yes (namely, the user hasoperated the reproduction/pause key 308 again), the flow advances tostep S106.

At step S106, the controller executes a control process for pausing thereproducing operation. At that point, the reproducing operation of datais stopped at the pause position Pst1. In addition, the controllerperforms a display control so that data at an address corresponding tothe pause position Pst is displayed as a still picture on the displaypanel 67.

At step S107, the controller determines whether or not the user hasrotated the jog dial 303 for the frame-by-frame reproducing operation.When the determined result at step S107 is No, the flow advances to stepS109. At step S109, the controller determines whether or not the userhas operated the erase key 302. When the determined result at step S109is No, the flow returns to step S106. At step S106, the controller keepsthe pause state at the pause position Pst1.

When the determined result at step S107 is Yes, the flow advances tostep S108. At step S108, the controller executes a control process for aframe-by-frame picture reproducing operation corresponding to therotating operation of the jog dial. In other words, as was describedwith reference to FIG. 11B, the controller changes and designates thepause position Pst1 and displays data at an address corresponding to thechanged pause position as a picture. When the determined result at stepS109 is No (namely, the flow returns to step S106 after step S108),picture data at an address corresponding to the pause position Pst1changed by the control process for the frame-by-frame picturereproducing operation is displayed.

When the determined result at step S109 is Yes (namely, the erase key302 has been operated), the flow advances to step S110.

At step S110, as was described with reference to FIG. 1C, the controllerexecutes a control process for repeatedly reproducing a track portionstarting from an address after the pause position Pst1 that has beenfinally designated. At that point, a picture as reproduced data isdisplayed on the display panel 67. As was described above, thecontroller executes a control process for displaying a dialog thatcontains a cancel button and an erase decision button. Alternatively,the controller may execute a control process for repeatedly reproducingtrimmed data before the pause position Pst1.

At step S111, the controller determines whether or not the user hasoperated the cancel button on the dialog (namely, the cancel decidingoperation).

When the determined result at step S111 is Yes, the flow returns to stepS101. At step S111, the controller restores the standby state in thecamera mode. On the other hand, when the determined result at step S111is No, the flow advances to step S112.

At step S112, the controller determines whether or not the user hasperformed the erase deciding operation (with the decision button on thedialog). When the determined result at step S112 is No, the flow returnsto step S110. At step S110, the controller repeats the reproducingoperation for track data after the pause position Pst1. On the otherhand, when the determined result at step S112 is Yes, the flow advancesto step S113. At step S113, the controller executes a process forerasing a track data portion after the pause position Pst1. In otherwords, the controller updates a predetermined content of the managementinformation so that an area of the data portion of the last track afterthe pause position Pst1 is managed as a blank area. At that point, thecontroller may execute a process for displaying a message thatrepresents that data has been erased on the display panel 67.

After the controller has completed the process at step S113, the flowreturns to step S101. At step S101, the controller enters the standbystate in the camera mode.

The process for the data end position changing operation in theinterview mode shown in FIG. 12 can be applied to the process in thecamera mode shown in FIG. 13. However, in this case, at step S101, theinterview mode is designated. At step S104, the controller reproducesthe last track as an interview mode track. At that point, as areproducing operation, the controller executes the reproduction controlprocess so that sound/still picture of an interview mode track isoutput.

At step S102, the controller determines whether or not the user hasoperated for example the record key 313. When the determined result atstep S102 is Yes, the flow advances to step S114. At step S114, thecontroller executes a recording operation in the interview mode.

When another mode other than the camera mode (or the interview mode) isdesignated, the flow exits from the routine shown in FIG. 13.

To more simplify the data end position change editing operation, theframe-by-frame picture reproducing operation can be omitted.

The data end position change editing operation may be selected from anedit menu that is called by a predetermined operation so as to changethe data end position of a desired track.

When the data end position change editing operation can be performed inthe camera mode or the interview mode as a recordable mode, the user canedit data by only performing a reproducing operation without need tochange the current mode to the edit mode. Thus, the operability of thevideo camera for the user is improved.

In addition, although a track as an object for the data end positionchange editing operation can be freely selected, when the last track isan object that is edited, considering a scene that will be photographednext, the last track connected to the scene can be quickly edited. Thus,the operability of the video camera for the user is improved.

In the above-described example, the structure for changing the endaddress corresponding to the pause position Pst1 was described.Alternatively, the start address of a track that contains an addressdesignated with a pause position Pst1 corresponding to the pauseposition Pst can be changed. In other words, a structure of which trackdata before a pause position Pst is erased can be accomplished.

7. Trimming Operation

According to the embodiment, not only the end address of a track, butthe start address thereof can be changed.

Thus, when the start address of a track is changed, the end addressthereof may be also changed in the same process.

To do that, two positions of reproduced data are designated. The startaddress is changed corresponding to the early designated position. Theend address is changed corresponding to the later designated position.In other words, data other than the area between the two designatedpositions is erased. The data in the area between the two positions istrimmed as new track data.

Next, with reference to FIG. 14, an example of such a trimming editingoperation will be described.

As shown in FIG. 14A, it is assumed that the reproduction of aparticular track #N is started. As shown in FIG. 14A, the start addressand the end address of the track #N are A2 and A7, respectively. Thereproduction is started from the start address A2.

While the track #N is being reproduced, the user can designate twopoints using a particular key or the like. In FIG. 14A, a first positiondesignating operation is performed at a data position corresponding toan address A3 after the start address A2. As a result, the A point isdesignated.

After the A point has been designated, the track reproducing operationis continued. In this state, when the user performs a second positiondesignating operation, a B point is designated. In FIG. 14A, the B pointis designated corresponding to the address A5.

After the two points A-B have been designated, when the user decides anerasing operation using for example the erase key 302, as shown in FIG.14B, the start address of the track #N is changed from the address A2 tothe address A4 corresponding to the A point. In addition, managementinformation is rewritten so that the end address is changed from theaddress A7 to the address A5 corresponding to the B point. As a result,the data area between the addresses A2 and A3 as track data before theaddress A4 and the data area between the addresses A6 and A7 as trackdata after the address A5 become blank areas. In other words, those dataareas are treated as areas erased from the original track data.

In other words, while data is being reproduced, two points aredesignated. Thereafter, a deciding operation for deleting a designatedarea. Thus, by such easy operations, a trimming editing operation fortrimming data in the middle of an original track and creating a newtrack can be performed.

In the reproduction mode, when the reproduction of the track #N−1 beforethe track #N is completed at the address A1, the reproduction of theaddress #N is started at the address A4 and completed at the address A5.Thereafter, the reproduction of the track #N+1 is started at the addressA8.

In the trimming editing operation shown in FIG. 14, the area between theA point and the B point may be finely adjusted by the frame-by-frame (orelement-by-element) reproducing operation as was described withreference to FIGS. 11A to 11D and 12A to 12D. In the trimming editingoperation, any desired track can be selected and edited. Alternatively,as in the above-described data end position change editing operation,after the reproducing operation is performed in the camera mode or theinterview mode, the editing operation may be performed for the lasttrack.

In the trimming editing operation, an area between an A point and a Bpoint may be designated on a plurality of tracks from which data issuccessively reproduced. In this case, a trimming operation of whichdata other than the area between the A point and the B point is erasedfrom data of all tracks recorded on the disc (in this embodiment, alltracks in the same mode (all camera mode tracks or all interview modetracks) can be performed.

In the above-described data end position change editing operation andtrimming editing operation, a camera mode track from and to which amoving picture/sound are recorded and reproduced and an interview modetrack from and to which a sound (as main data) and still pictures (assupplemental data) are recorded and reproduced are considered. In thedata end position change editing operation and the trimming editingoperation, only an audio track that contains a sound may be edited.

In addition, the present invention can be also applied to a file ofcharacter information such as text data. For example, since a soundrecognizing function has been improved so far, a recognized sound can beconverted into a character information file.

When the data end position change editing operation and the trimmingediting operation according to the present invention are applied to sucha character information file, a proofreading operation for the file canbe easily performed.

According to the embodiment, as a medium from and to which data isrecorded and reproduced, a disc shaped record medium is used.Alternatively, the embodiment can be applied to a non-volatile memorymedium such as a flash memory that has become common. The non-volatilememory medium is composed of a memory device. In the memory medium, therecord data is managed with the so-called FAT (File Allocation Table).When the data end position change editing operation and the trimmingediting operation according to the present invention are performed, thecontent of the FAT is updated.

According to the embodiment, as the audio codec corresponding to theMD-DATA 2 format, the ATRAC2 is used. However, in consideration of asound recording operation for a semiconductor memory, the format is notlimited. In other words, ATRAC3, MPEG1, Audio Layor3 (MP3), AAC (MPEG2Advanced Audio Codec), Twin VQ (Tranceform Domain Weighted InterleaveVector Quantization), or WMA (Windows Media Audio) may be used.

As was described above, according to the present invention, while datais being reproduced, corresponding to the address of the stop positionof the stop operation (pausing operation), the end address or startaddress of new data is designated. Corresponding to the designated endaddress or start address, the management information is updated.

In a device using a tape medium on which data is recorded withoutmanagement information, information should be actually overwritten orerased to/from the tape. However, according to the present invention,information of the end address or start address that is changedcorresponding to the stop data position of the reproduction can beupdated with management information. In other words, since managementinformation is updated without need to change data, an editing operationfor changing the end address or the start address can be easilyperformed.

In a system that manages data of a record medium with managementinformation, to obtain the same edited result as the above-described endaddress change editing operation, it is necessary to divide data as anobject that is edited and erase one of the divided data portions. Incontrast, according to the present invention, such an editing operationcan be very easily performed in such a manner that after the reproducingoperation is stopped, a data erasing operation is performed.

In the structure that when an erase designating operation is performed,management information is updated (namely, data is erased), since theerase designating operation of the user causes data to be erased, datacan be prevented from being mistakenly erased.

In the structure that the end address or start address can be changedand edited in a record mode of which data can be recorded (cameramode/interview mode), even if the user has designated a record mode forphotographing a picture, he or she can perform an editing operationwithout need to perform a switching operation to the edit mode. Thus,the operability of the video camera for the user is improved.

According to the present invention, when a plurality of record modes—forexample, a camera mode and an interview mode can be designated, datarecorded corresponding to the currently designated mode is selected fromdata recorded on the disc. In this case, since the designated recordmode corresponds to the selected data type, the operability of theediting operation is improved.

As data that is edited, data managed as a last program (track) isreproduced. When the user actually uses the video camera, data isrecorded after the last program. Thus, when the user edits a program, itis most likely the last program. Thus, when data of the last track isreproduced, since it can be easily edited, the editing function of thepresent invention becomes more useful.

In addition, after the reproduction of data is stopped, when the address(pause position) corresponding to the stop position can be changed, thedata erase position can be finely adjusted. As a result, the user canobtain more satisfied results of the editing operation.

In addition, when a data portion after or before the address (pauseposition) corresponding to the designated stop position is reproduced,the user can check whether his or her designated pause position (namely,erase position) is proper.

When the data portion is repeatedly reproduced, the user can carefullycheck the erase position.

In addition, according to the present invention, since two datapositions of data that is reproduced are designated, the start addressand end address of data can be changed and designated corresponding tothe two data positions. In other words, when an area between twopositions is designated for data that is reproduced, an editingoperation for trimming the area between the start address and endaddress corresponding to the two designated positions and erasing theother data portions before and after the trimmed area can be performed.

In this case, such an editing operation can be more easily performedthan the case that a tape medium is used. In addition, a complicateddata editing operation of which after a data dividing operation isperformed, a data erasing operation is performed is not required.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   300 . . . MAIN DIAL-   301 . . . RELEASE KEY-   302 . . . ERASE KEY-   303 . . . JOG DIAL-   308 . . . REPRODUCTION/PAUSE KEY-   309 . . . STOP KEY-   310 . . . SLOW REPRODUCTION-KEY-   311, 312 . . . SEARCH KEY-   PS1 . . . REPRODUCTION/EDIT POSITION-   PS2 . . . POWER OFF POSITION-   PS3 . . . CAMERA MODE POSITION-   PS4 . . . CAMERA MODE POSITION

1. A portable recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recordingand/or reproducing data to and/or from a storage medium having a dataarea and a management area, the data area storing data, the managementarea storing management information for managing the data, the apparatuscomprising: reproducing means for reproducing the data corresponding tomanagement information that is read from the storage medium, whereindata stored on the storage medium is managed and reproduced in a unit ofa program corresponding to the management information; input means forreceiving a user's input; stopping means for stopping reproducing theprogram of data according to the user's input inputted by said inputmeans; and updating means for updating the management information sothat an address of the storage medium corresponding to a stop positionof the program of reproduced data decided by the user's input becomesthe end address of the program of reproduced data, wherein before saidupdating means updates the management information, said reproducingmeans check-reproduces a portion that is erased and that is after theaddress of the storage medium corresponding to the stop position of theprogram of reproduced data, and wherein said updating means updates themanagement information to erase a portion of data, based on only onestop position decided by the user's input, so that a the portion of databetween the address of the storage medium corresponding to the stopposition of the program of reproduced data and a previously designatedend address of the program of reproduced data is erased and the addressof the stop position becomes the end address of the program ofreproduced data.
 2. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as setforth in claim 1, further comprising: designating means for designatingsaid updating means to update the management information, wherein whensaid designating means has designated said updating means to update themanagement information, said updating means updates the managementinformation.
 3. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forthin claim 1, further comprising: recording means for recording data tothe storage medium, wherein when said recording means is in a recordmode of which data is capable of being recorded, said updating meansupdates the management information, to erase a portion of data, based ononly one stop position decided by the user's input.
 4. The recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, furthercomprising: recording means for recording data to the storage medium ina plurality of record modes, wherein said reproducing means reproducesdata recorded in a currently designated record mode.
 5. The recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, furthercomprising: photographing means for photo-electrically converting anoptical image of an object into picture data, wherein one of the recordmodes is a mode of which the picture data is capable of being recordedto the storage medium.
 6. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus asset forth in claim 5, further comprising: audio inputting means forinputting a sound and outputting sound data, wherein one of the recordmodes is a mode of which the sound data is capable of being recorded tothe storage medium by said recording means and the picture data iscapable of being recorded as a still picture to the storage medium. 7.The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein said reproducing means reproduces a program managed as the lastprogram.
 8. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth inclaim 1, further comprising: operating means for operating an addressdesignated to the end address of the program of reproduced data so thatthe address is designated to an adjacent address of the storage mediumcorresponding to the stop position of the program of reproduced data. 9.The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 8,wherein said operating means is capable of performing a rotatingoperation and a pressing operation so as to select an address from theadjacent address corresponding to the rotating operation and designatethe selected address to the end address of the program of reproduceddata.
 10. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said storage medium is an optical disc.
 11. Therecording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, whereinthe storage medium is an optical disc, and wherein said recording meansprints a magnetic field modulated with the data on a record surface ofthe optical disc so as to record the data.
 12. The recording and/orreproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said recordingmeans applies the magnetic field modulated with the data on the recordsurface of the optical disc and pulse-radiates the light on the recordsurface of the optical disc in synchronization with the data.
 13. Therecording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe storage medium is a non-volatile memory.
 14. A portable recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data toand/or from a storage medium having a data area and a management area,the data area storing data, the management area storing managementinformation for managing the data, the apparatus comprising: reproducingmeans for reproducing the data corresponding to management informationthat is read from the storage medium, wherein data stored on the storagemedium is managed and reproduced in a unit of a program corresponding tothe management information; input means for receiving a user's input;designating means for designating a particular time point of the programof reproduced data according to the user's input inputted by said inputmeans; and updating means for updating the management information sothat an address of the storage medium corresponding to the designatedtime point of the program of reproduced data decided by the user's inputbecomes the end address of the program of reproduced data, whereinbefore said updating means updates the management information, saidreproducing means check-reproduces a portion that is erased and that isafter the address of the storage medium corresponding to the designatedtime point of the program of reproduced data, and wherein said updatingmeans updates the management information to erase a portion of data,based on only one designated time point decided by the user's input, sothat the portion of data between the address of the storage mediumcorresponding to the designated time point of the program of reproduceddata and a previously designated end address of the program ofreproduced data is erased and the address of the designated time pointbecomes the end address of the program of reproduced data.
 15. Therecording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 14, whereinsaid updating means updates the management information to erase aportion of data, based on only one designated time point decided by theuser's input, so that the portion of data between the address of thestorage medium corresponding to the designated time point of the programof reproduced data and a previously designated start address of theprogram of reproduced data is erased and the address of the designatedtime point becomes a start address of the program of reproduced data.16. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 15,wherein said designating means is capable of designating two particulartime points of the reproduced data, and wherein said updating meansupdates the management information to erase two portions of data, eachportion to be erased based on only one designated time point decided bythe user's input, so that an address of the storage medium correspondingto one of the two time points becomes the start address of the programof reproduced data and an address of the storage medium corresponding tothe other time point becomes the end address of the program ofreproduced data.
 17. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as setforth in claim 14, further comprising: designating means for designatingsaid updating means to update the management information, wherein whensaid designating means has designated said updating means to update themanagement information, said updating means updates the managementinformation.
 18. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forthin claim 14, further comprising: recording means for recording data tothe storage medium, wherein when said recording means is in a recordmode of which data is capable of being recorded, said updating meansupdates the management information, to erase a portion of data, based ononly one designated time point decided by the user's input.
 19. Therecording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 14, furthercomprising: recording means for recording data to the storage medium ina plurality of record modes, wherein said reproducing means reproducesdata recorded in a currently designated record mode.
 20. The recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 19, furthercomprising: photographing means for photo-electrically converting anoptical image of an object into picture data, wherein one of the recordmodes is a mode of which the picture data is capable of being recordedto the storage medium.
 21. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus asset forth in claim 20, further comprising: audio inputting means forinputting a sound and outputting sound data, wherein one of the recordmodes is a mode of which the sound data is capable of being recorded tothe storage medium by said recording means and the picture data iscapable of being recorded as a still picture to the storage medium. 22.The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 14,wherein said reproducing means reproduces a program managed as the lastprogram.
 23. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth inclaim 14, further comprising: operating means for operating an addressdesignated to the start address of the program of reproduced data sothat the address is designated to an adjacent address of the storagemedium corresponding to the stop position of the program of reproduceddata.
 24. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth inclaim 23, wherein said operating means is capable of performing arotating operation and a pressing operation so as to select an addressfrom the adjacent address corresponding to the rotating operation anddesignate the selected address to the start address of the program ofreproduced data.
 25. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as setforth in claim 14, wherein said storage medium is an optical disc. 26.The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 18,wherein the storage medium is an optical disc, and wherein saidrecording means applies a magnetic field modulated with the data on arecord surface of the optical disc so as to record the data.
 27. Therecording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 26, whereinsaid recording means applies the magnetic field modulated with the dataon the record surface of the optical disc and pulse-radiates the lighton the record surface of the optical disc in synchronization with thedata.
 28. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth inclaim 14, wherein the storage medium is a non-volatile memory.
 29. Anediting method for editing data stored to a storage medium of a portableapparatus having a data area and a management area, the data areastoring data, the management area storing management information formanaging the data, the method comprising the steps of: reproducing thedata corresponding to management information that is read from thestorage medium, wherein the data stored on the storage medium is managedand reproduced in a unit of a program corresponding to the managementinformation; receiving a user's input; stopping reproducing the dataaccording to the user's input; and updating the management informationso that an address of the storage medium corresponding to a stopposition of the program of reproduced data decided by the user's inputbecomes the end address of the program of reproduced data, whereinbefore said updating means updates the management information, saidreproducing means check-reproduces a portion that is erased and that isafter the address of the storage medium corresponding to the stopposition of the program of reproduced data, and wherein said updatingmeans updates the management information to erase a portion of data,based on only one stop position decided by the user's input, so that athe portion of data between the address of the storage mediumcorresponding to the stop position of the program of reproduced data anda previously designated end address of the program of reproduced data iserased and the address of the stop position becomes the end address ofthe program of reproduced data.
 30. An editing method for editing datastored to a storage medium of a portable apparatus having a data areaand a management area, the data area storing data, the management areastoring management information for managing the data, the methodcomprising the steps of: receiving a user's input; reproducing the datacorresponding to management information that is read from the storagemedium, wherein the data stored on the storage medium is managed andreproduced in a unit of a program corresponding to the managementinformation; designating a particular time point of the program ofreproduced data according to the user's input; and updating themanagement information so that an address of the storage mediumcorresponding to the designated time point of the program of reproduceddata decided by the user's input becomes the end address of the programof reproduced data, wherein before said updating means updates themanagement information, said reproducing means check-reproduces aportion that is erased and that is after the address of the storagemedium corresponding to the designated time point of the program ofreproduced data, and wherein said updating means updates the managementinformation to erase a portion of data, based on only one designatedtime point decided by the user's input, so that the portion of databetween the address of the storage medium corresponding to thedesignated time point of the program of reproduced data and a previouslydesignated start address of the program of reproduced data is erased andthe address of the designated time point becomes a start address of theprogram of reproduced data.
 31. An editing method for editing datastored to a storage medium of a portable apparatus having a data areaand a management area, the data area storing data, the management areastoring management information for managing the data, the methodcomprising the steps of: receiving a user's input; reproducing the datacorresponding to the management information that is read from thestorage medium, wherein the data stored on the storage medium is managedand reproduced in a unit of a program corresponding to the managementinformation; designating two predetermined time points of the program ofreproduced data according to the user's input; and updating themanagement information so that an address of the storage mediumcorresponding to one of the two time points decided by the user's inputbecomes the start address of the program of reproduced data and anaddress of the storage medium corresponding to the other time pointbecomes the end address of the program of reproduced data, whereinbefore said updating means updates the management information, saidreproducing means check-reproduces a portion that is erased and that isafter the address of the storage medium corresponding to the stopposition of the program of reproduced data, and wherein said updatingmeans updates the management information to erase two portions of data,each portion to be erased based on only one designated time pointdecided by the user's input, so that an address of the storage mediumcorresponding to one of the two time points becomes the start address ofthe program of reproduced data and an address of the storage mediumcorresponding to the other time point becomes the end address of theprogram of reproduced data.